MONMOUTH – The parking lot at the Monmouth VFW was practically full at approximately 4 p.m. Saturday afternoon — the time when the heart transplant benefit for Kylie Logsdon was scheduled to begin.

"It's been very overwhelming," Logdson, 23, said. "I don't even know some of the people here."

Food, entertainment and many items were up for auction at the event that was scheduled to last through the evening. The money was being raised to cover expenses for travel, food and hotel accomodations for when Logsdon and her family must make many trips to and from Chicago — where she hopes to get a heart transplant in the coming months.

Logsdon was diagnosed with postpartum cardiomyopathy, a condition in which a weakened heart is diagnosed within the last month of pregnancy or within five months after delivery.

She was diagnosed with the condition at Peoria Hospital after she gave birth to her son, Devin. She has since had to have a heart pump that regulates and circulates her blood.

At the moment, Logsdon is on the 1B list for for a transplant but is hoping to be bumped up to the 1A list this month. If she's put on the 1A list, the average wait time for a transplant is four weeks.

The disease is rare and one of the organizers of the event, Cathi Watson, Cameron, said Logsdon was the youngest person to be diagnosed with the disease at the Peoria Hospital.

Stacy Dutton, Monmouth, who also helped organize the benefit, said the reaction from the surrounding area and beyond has been great.

"It's spread like wildfire," Dutton said.

Watson agreed.

"People who don't even know Kylie have walked in and given something," Watson said.

Among the items being auctioned were pairs of Cubs-Cardinals tickets, soybeans, a shotgun and a 1988 NASCAR picture signed by the entire circuit from a Charlotte, N.C. race. It was expected the event would raise as much as $40,000.

Dutton said while the benefit was to raise money for travel and food expenses, it was also being done to help with expenses after Kylie and her mother, Kathy, lost their jobs.

"We're trying to help to replace two salaries as well," she said.

Logsdon, while hopeful for getting the transplant soon, said she'd have to manage the condition no matter what happened.

"I'd have to be on meds for the rest of my life and have biopsies done," she said. "Sometimes, there needs to be a second transplant.

Although it's been a difficult time for Logsdon, she said her family is what has gotten her through it.

"I always knew family was important, but now I know it's number one," she said. "My son keeps me going. I can only think about him when I'm in the hospital."